What Does Worship Look Like?

This week I want to share with you something I came across in my daily reading. It’s Solomon’s prayer of dedication found in 2 Chronicles 6:12-42. And since six years of my life were sprinkled with the study Solomon’s life as I wrote my Bible study on Ecclesiastes, I couldn’t help but want to share this with you!

To set the stage – Solomon had assumed his rightful role as king and had fulfilled his father’s dream of building a temple for God. Solomon made it his first crowning achievement and as he stood before the children of Israel, he prayed a prayer of dedication.

This week, allow yourself to sit at the feet of Solomon – to learn from the wisest man on the planet – and to apply the precepts of prayer you’ll learn along the way.

To get started, I’d like to recommend that you read 2 Chronicles 6 in its entirety.

“Then he knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven, and said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart, who have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him.” 2 Chronicles 6:13b-14 (ESV)

I realize many people have their own ideas of what worship should look like…especially public worship. Much of what we think has been derived from what we have been taught throughout the years. Although my Christian life has been filled with many godly examples and a great group of people who have poured themselves and the Word of God into my life, I don’t think anyone has ever taught me what worship looks like.

I only remember a couple of comments about public worship…

“Don’t draw attention to yourself.”

“Don’t get too excited and begin moving to the music. It’s too much like dancing.”

“Don’t raise your hands or clap too loud. It’s distracting.

ARE YOU KIDDING! Doesn’t God deserve more than starched worship! It doesn’t even make sense to refrain from publicly praising the One who is the Great I AM! I realize the Bible talks about doing things decently and in order – so I’m not talking about some frantic, crazy, fleshly led attempt at worship. I’m talking about sincere, face down, it’s-all-about God kind of worship.

You see, Solomon wasn’t concerned about whether or not he was drawing attention to himself. In fact, he even made a platform so everyone could see that he was not ashamed to bend a knee or raise his hands.

I realize that as the King, he needed a platform to deliver his speech. But his first call of business wasn’t a speech. It was public prayer. And so he hit the deck – knees down and hands up.

I did that yesterday at church. I hit the floor – knees downs and hands up. Up as high as I could get them. Reaching for Heaven. Reaching for God. Surrendered. Abandoned. Humbled. Thankful. Praising, worshipping and loving my God and King.

As King, Solomon lead the way in what worship looks like. No…it doesn’t always have to look like that. You can stand still with your head and heart bowed to God. You can sit in a chair with your hands down and your eyes lifted to heaven.

Your posture doesn’t matter. Your heart does.

Could it be that we are robbing God of the worship He is due by our traditions and our own preconceived ideas of what worship looks like? Could we be hindering a brother or sister in Christ by conveying our personal preferences about worship rather than taking a biblical approach to patterns of worship presented in Scripture?

Today, take some time to just worship God. Don’t worry about what others think…don’t be concerned about drawing attention to yourself. Just worship the One who is worthy of all praise. In private – in public…just worship God.

He is the LORD God of Israel. There is no God in heaven or on earth like Him. He keeps His covenant and mercy with His servants who walk before Him with all their hearts!

What does worship look like to you? Have you ever been allowed the preconceived ideas of others to prevent you from worshipping God as He deserves and desires?

6 Comments

You cound not have said it better then this!!! I use to be concerned about lifting my hands in praise to the one true King…now I cannot not lift them…and some times I get to moving with the music it might look like dancing all while tears of love and joy run down my face as I think about the things I have done and the road I took instead of the road Jesus made for me…Thank you Stephanie I so needed this today

Oh, Stephanie, I love Solomon's prayer and I love, love, love this post! I have sat among the *frozen chosen* too many times and I would much rather worship with those let loose and don't care what others think. Thanks for this, sweetie!